Surface cleaning machine having double glide apparatus

ABSTRACT

A surface cleaning machine includes a cleaning head having a double glide apparatus formed by a first glide member in front position and a second glide member in rear position. The first and the second glide members are joined together along a portion of their facing walls, a longitudinal cavity being defined therebetween that opens to the surface to be cleaned. Each of the first and the second glide members has one or more suction openings defined in its bottom wall, and the second glide member also has one or more inlet openings defined in its rear wall to receive a cleaning solution, which is delivered through the cavity to a surface to be cleaned and is removed from the surface by action of vacuum applied through the suction openings.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a surface cleaning machine, which includes a cleaning head having a double glide apparatus formed by a first glide member in front position and a second glide member in rear position. More specifically, the present invention concerns a cleaning machine, by which a cleaning solution is applied through a cavity within the double glide apparatus to a surface to be cleaned and is then removed by the action of vacuum applied at each of the first and second glide members.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Surface cleaning machines, in particular carpet cleaning machines, typically include a nozzle spraying a cleaning solution onto a surface to be cleaned, and a vacuum system extracting the spent cleaning solution and dirt particles from the surface. Examples of floor cleaning machines in the prior art are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,624,668 to Krause; U.S. Pat. No. 4,441,229 to Monson; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,530,135 to Benedict.

Limitations of surface cleaning machines in the prior art include the limited efficiencies deriving from cleaning a carpet pile that is often not erect, especially in the case of long piles; and the need to comb the carpet after cleaning to provide the uniform look expected by the purchasers of floor cleaning services.

A surface cleaning machine that would overcome these limitations would provide for a more efficient and productive cleaning.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A surface cleaning machine according to the invention includes a cleaning head having a double glide apparatus composed of a first glide member in front position and a second glide member in rear position that are joined to one another. A cleaning solution is applied through a cavity defined between the first and the second glide members, and the spent cleaning solution and any dirt particles entrained therein are removed by action of vacuum applied at each of the first and the second glide members.

In different embodiments, the first and the second glide members may be two separate pieces joined together with one or more fasteners, or may be formed as a single piece.

The cleaning solution is provided to the cavity through one or more inlet openings defined in the second glide member, and through one or more conduits leading to nozzles in the cavity.

In one embodiment, one of the conduits is shaped as a Venturi tube. In one embodiment, the nozzles are disposed to eject the cleaning surface in a direction perpendicular to the surface to be cleaned.

One or more suction opening are defined in the bottom walls of the first and the second glide members. In one embodiment, there is a plurality of suction openings that are defined on each of the bottom walls and that longitudinally communicate with each other to form single suction openings along each of the bottom walls. The single suction openings are in fluid communication with one or more suction vanes defined in the first and the second glide members.

In one embodiment, the walls of the single suction openings have ridges defined thereon.

A surface cleaning machine according to the invention also includes a vacuum port that is fluidly coupled to the cleaning head, a handle, and a lever triggering the flow of the cleaning solution.

It is an aspect of the present invention to provide a surface cleaning machine that improves cleaning effectiveness and speed.

It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a surface cleaning machine that reduces the cost of cleaning a surface such as a carpet.

It is still another aspect of the present invention to provide a carpet cleaning machine having a double glide apparatus, in which a front glide member applies vacuum to the pile before the cleaning solution is applied, causing the carpet pile to become more erect and better exposed to the cleaning solution, and a second glide member removes the spent cleaning solution and dirt particles entrained therein from the carpet pile.

It is still another aspect of the present invention to provide a carpet cleaning machine with a double glide apparatus, which leaves the carpet pile erect and, therefore, substantially uniform after cleaning, reducing or eliminating the need to comb of the carpet to achieve a uniform look.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a surface cleaning machine according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the surface cleaning machine of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded detail view of the cleaning head of the surface cleaning machine of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a double glide apparatus according to the invention.

FIG. 5 is a section view of the double glide apparatus of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the double glide apparatus of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the double glide apparatus of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a rear view of the double glide apparatus of FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the cleaning head of the surface cleaning machine of FIG. 1, showing the double glide apparatus of FIG. 5 in assembled condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Detailed descriptions of embodiments of the invention are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, the specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to employ the present invention in virtually any detailed system, structure, or manner.

Turning first to FIGS. 1 and 2, a surface cleaning machine 10 according to the invention includes, in its basic constituent parts, a cleaning head 12, a vacuum port 14 in fluid communication with cleaning head 12, a handle 46, and a lever 18 disposed in the proximity of handle 46. In one embodiment, surface cleaning machine 10 is a carpet cleaning machine.

Cleaning head 12 receives a cleaning solution through a delivery tube 16 when lever 18 is actuated and delivers the cleaning solution to a surface to be cleaned. Cleaning head 12 also applies vacuum to the same surface, sucking back the spent cleaning solution and dirt particles entrained therein, and delivers the spent cleaning solution and the dirt particles to vacuum port 14 and eventually to a vacuum tube (not shown) coupled to vacuum port 14.

FIG. 3 depicts an exploded view of cleaning head 12 of surface cleaning machine 10. A double glide apparatus 20 according to the invention is disposed in the front portion of cleaning head 12 and is shrouded by a cover 22.

Turning now to FIGS. 4 and 5, double glide apparatus 20 includes a first glide member 26, disposed distally from vacuum port 14, and second glide member 28, disposed proximally to vacuum port 14. First glide member 26 includes an outer surface 30 and an inner surface 32, a bottom surface 34 and a top surface 36. Likewise, second glide member 28 includes an outer surface 38 and an inner surface 40, a bottom surface 42 and a top surface 44.

First and second glide members 26 and 28 are fixedly joined to one another. In the illustrated embodiment, first glide member 26 and second glide member 28 are separate members having upper portions of inner walls 32 and 40 fixedly abutting against each other, for example, by having one or more fasteners such as screws extend through first and second glide members 26 and 28. In other embodiments of the inventions, first and second glide members 26 and 28 may be made as a single piece rather than separate pieces, or may not have equal dimensions, as long as their joined assembly has the same configuration as that depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5. Fasteners may also be used to couple double glide apparatus 20 to cover 22.

A cavity 48 is defined between inner walls 32 and 40 and extends vertically from the joined portions of inner walls 32 and 40 to the bottom of double glide apparatus 20. In one embodiment, cavity 48 also extends longitudinally along the entirety of double glide apparatus 20, while in other embodiments cavity 48 extends longitudinally only for a portion of double glide apparatus 20. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, cavity 48 extends longitudinally substantially for the entire length of double glide apparatus 20, except for the longitudinal ends, where the bottom of cavity 28 is blocked by a lip 50 extending along the base perimeter of double glide apparatus 20 to support cover 22.

A bottom and a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 4 are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. In particular, the bottom view of FIG. 7 shows that bottom walls 34 and 42 of first and second glide members 26 and 28 each include a plurality of suction openings 24, through which suction is applied to the surface to be cleaned. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 6, suction openings 24 communicate longitudinally with each other to form single suction openings along bottom walls 34 and 42. In other embodiments, instead, suction openings 24 may be individual openings that are not connected longitudinally to each other.

The top view of FIG. 7 shows that a plurality of suction vanes 52 are formed within first and second glide members 26 and 28 and convey the spent cleaning solution and any dirt particles extracted from the cleaned surface from suction openings 24 to vacuum port 14. In the illustrated embodiment, there are five separate suction vanes 52 in each of first and second glide members 26 and 28 that are longitudinally spaced from each other by solid portions 54, in which fasteners are disposed that connect front and rear glide members 26 and 28 as wells as other components. Solid portions 54 of second glide member 28 also have inlet openings 56 defined therein, as described in greater detail below. In different embodiments, each of front and rear glide members 26 and 28 may have different numbers of suction vanes 52, and suction vanes 52 in each of front and rear glide members 26 and 28 may be longitudinally connected to each other to operate as single suction vane.

Referring now to FIG. 8, outer wall 38 of second glide member 28 includes a plurality of inlet openings 56, through which fresh cleaning solution enters double glide apparatus 20. Inlet openings 56 are fluidly connected with cleaning solution delivery tube 16 by conduits defined or disposed within cleaning head 12.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, cleaning solution delivery tube 16 delivers the fresh cleaning solution to a longitudinal conduit 58, defined at the rear of cleaning head 12, which in turn delivers the cleaning solution to each of inlet openings 56.

Venturi tubes 60 are defined within second glide member 28 and fluidly connect longitudinal conduit 58 to nozzles 62, which deliver the fresh cleaning solution into cavity 48. The fresh cleaning solution is accelerated within Venturi tubes 60 due to their conical configuration, and upon exiting nozzles 62 it disperses within cavity 48. The arrows in FIG. 9 illustrate the path of the cleaning solution. In other embodiments of the invention, cylindrical conduits, or conduits of other geometrical shapes, may be employed instead of Venturi tubes.

Preferably, nozzles 62 are disposed to cause the cleaning solution to be ejected in a vertical direction, perpendicularly to the surface to be cleaned. In different embodiments of the invention, however, nozzles 62 may cause the cleaning solution to be ejected in different directions, or in a plurality of directions.

Eventually, the spent cleaning solution as wells as dirt particles removed from the cleaned surface is sucked away by the action of vacuum applied through suction vanes 52, and is delivered to vacuum port 14.

As shown in FIG. 9, the walls of suction vanes 52 may have a ridged pattern. In particular, ridges 64 are defined at suction openings 24 in bottom surfaces 34 and 42 and provide a comb-like effect on a carpet cleaned with machine 10. This comb-like effect eliminates or at least reduces the combing of the carpet pile after cleaning to provide the carpet with a uniform look, and is increased by having bottom surfaces 34 and 42 strike the carpet numerous times, as it is typically done by carpet cleaning operators.

A surface cleaning machine having a double glide apparatus according to the invention improves cleaning effectiveness as well as cleaning speed in comparison to surface cleaning machines in the prior art.

For example, when a carpet is cleaned, the front glide member applies vacuum to the pile before the cleaning solution is applied, causing the pile to become more erect and be better exposed to the cleaning solution and to the vacuum later applied by the rear glide member later.

Moreover, by applying a double vacuum suction to the carpet in a single stroke, a surface cleaning machine according to the invention leaves a carpet pile that is more erect and, therefore, more uniform after cleaning, reducing or eliminating the need to comb the carpet after cleaning to provide a uniform look. This benefit becomes particularly evident when the carpet is stroked multiple times, as with the back-and-forth movement that is typically used by floor cleaning operators.

While the invention has been described in connection with the above described embodiments, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular forms set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the scope of the invention. Further, the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments that may become obvious to those skilled in the art and the scope of the present invention is limited only by the appended claims. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A double glide apparatus for a surface cleaning machine, the double glide apparatus comprising: a first glide member having, a first inner and a first outer longitudinal wall, and a first bottom wall, and one or more first suction openings defined in the first bottom wall; and a second glide member having, a second inner and a second outer longitudinal wall, and a second bottom wall, and one or more second suction openings defined in the second bottom wall, and one or more inlet openings defined in the outer longitudinal wall to receive a cleaning solution, wherein the first and the second glide members are fixedly coupled to one another along the first and the second inner longitudinal walls, and wherein a cavity is defined between the first and the second inner longitudinal walls, the cavity receiving the cleaning solution from the one or more inlet openings and delivering the cleaning solution to a surface to be cleaned.
 2. The double glide apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and the second glide members are two separate pieces joined together with a fastener.
 3. The double glide apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning solution is delivered from the each of the one or more inlet openings to the cavity through a Venturi tube.
 4. The double glide apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a nozzle ejecting the cleaning solution from the Venturi tube and into the cavity, the nozzle projecting the cleaning solution in a direction perpendicular to the surface to be cleaned.
 5. The double glide apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and the second one or more suction openings are a plurality of suction openings longitudinally communicating with one another to form first and second single suction openings along the first and the second bottom walls, each of the first and the second single suction openings being in fluid communication with a plurality of first and second suction vanes defined in the first and the second glide members.
 6. The double glide apparatus according to claim 6, wherein walls of the first and the second single suction openings have ridges defined thereon.
 7. A double glide apparatus for a surface cleaning machine, the double glide apparatus comprising: a first glide member having, a first inner and a first outer longitudinal wall, and a first bottom wall, and a first suction opening defined in the first bottom wall; a second glide member having, a second inner and a second outer longitudinal wall, and a second bottom wall, and a second suction opening defined in the second bottom wall, and a plurality of inlet openings defined in the second outer longitudinal wall to receive a cleaning solution, wherein the first and the second glide members are fixedly coupled to one another along the first and the second inner longitudinal walls, and wherein a cavity is defined between the first and the second inner longitudinal walls, the cavity receiving the cleaning solution from the inlet openings and delivering the cleaning solution to a surface to be cleaned; a plurality of Venturi tubes fluidly coupling the inlet openings to the cavity, each of the Venturi tubes delivering the cleaning solution from one of the inlet openings to a nozzle on a wall of the cavity; and a plurality of nozzles nozzle each ejecting the cleaning solution from one of the Venturi tube into the cavity, the nozzle projecting the cleaning solution in a direction perpendicular to the surface to be cleaned.
 8. The double glide apparatus according to claim 7, wherein walls of the first and the second suction openings have walls with ridges defined thereon.
 9. The double glide apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first and the second suction openings each comprise a plurality of suction openings longitudinally communicating with one another to form the first and the second suction openings, each of the suction openings being in fluid communication with a plurality of first and second suction vanes defined in the first and the second glide members.
 10. A surface cleaning machine comprising: a cleaning head having a double glide apparatus that comprises: a first glide member having, a first inner and a first outer longitudinal wall, and a first bottom wall, and one or more first suction openings defined in the first bottom wall; and a second glide member having, a second inner and a second outer longitudinal wall, and a second bottom wall, and one or more second suction openings defined in the second bottom wall, and one or more inlet second openings defined in the second outer longitudinal wall to receive a cleaning solution, wherein the first and the second glide members are fixedly coupled to one another along the first and the second inner longitudinal walls, and wherein a cavity is defined between the first and the inner longitudinal walls, the cavity receiving the cleaning solution from the one or more inlet openings and delivering the cleaning solution to a surface to be cleaned; and a suction tube fluidly coupled to the cleaning head.
 11. The surface cleaning machine according to claim 10, wherein the first and the second glide members are two separate pieces joined together with a fastener.
 12. The surface cleaning machine according to claim 10, wherein the cleaning solution is delivered from the each of the one or more inlet openings to the cavity through a Venturi tube.
 13. The surface cleaning machine according to claim 12, further comprising a nozzle ejecting the cleaning solution from the Venturi tube and into the cavity, the nozzle projecting the cleaning solution in a direction perpendicular to the surface to be cleaned.
 14. The surface cleaning machine according to claim 10 wherein the one or more suction openings defined in the bottom walls of the first and the second glide members are a plurality of suction openings fluidly communicating with one another to form single suction openings along the first and the second bottom walls, each of the single suction openings being in fluid communication with a plurality of first and second suction vanes defined in the first and the second glide members.
 15. The surface cleaning machine according to claim 10, wherein walls of the first and the second single suction openings have ridges defined thereon. 